WOODBURY — Nonnewaug welcomes powderpuff football to its home turf on Nov. 22. The game will consist of the senior class vs. the junior class and will begin at 4 p.m. 

This year marks the first time in athletic program history for a powderpuff game. The conception of powderpuff at Nonnewaug has been in the works for over a year. 

“The idea was brought up to do it last year,” said Kyle Brennan, a social studies teacher who organized the game. “It was difficult to find a good time to do it. A lot of people are involved in a lot of stuff at Nonnewaug. By the time we really tried to put it together last spring it was just too tight to pack in and properly plan.”

Last year, the plan in place was to attempt to fit it in during the spring, but unfortunately this didn’t follow through. 

“By the time we were able to set a date it was in the middle of June,” said Brennan. “We were getting close to finals and it just a was a lot close to the end of the school year. It was going to be too difficult to do.”

With the help of the Class of 2023 Class Council, Brennan was able to make it happen this year. 

“After filling out the building use form and getting approval from Mrs. Sordi, we collectively chose possible dates for the event, as well as practice dates,” said Madison Dannenhoffer, 2023 Class Council president. “We then put out forms to get people to participate and reached out to Northwest United players to coach both teams.”

Especially for high schoolers, powderpuff is more than just a game. 

“To me, powderpuff is a good way to build school culture and create an event that inspires a little extra spirit towards the end of football season,” said Brennan.
With Nonnewaug’s co-op football program, Northwest United, in just its second year as a varsity team, generating school spirit was vital. 

“Our football team has been good the last couple of years — really for the first time in the history of our school,” said Brennan. “So adding powderpuff to Thanksgiving week kind of helps build the spirit for that important end-of-the-season game.”

Northwest United will play their final regular season game Nov. 23 against Abbott Tech-Immaculate, followed by the program’s first-ever Class MM playoff game Nov. 29 against an opponent to be determined.